Chapter 16
Bianca Ferrucci
Days later…
I had nothing to mourn as I looked out my bedroom window.
My house had never been a home, and my parents had never been the kind of family anyone would wish for.
So why was my heart beating so fast? It wasn’t sadness over leaving.
It was fear. A fear that crawled up my spine and made my hands tremble as the staff hired by Tiziano prepared me for the wedding.
Jewelry boxes were scattered across the vanity, as if they wanted to remind me that I was being transformed into something ornamental, something meant to be displayed.
The dress was flawless, custom-made, and the shoes looked as though they had come straight out of a fairy tale.
But I knew I wasn’t a princess. I never had been.
Giulia was leaning against the corner of the room, looking at me with a mixture of envy and contempt.
“Who would have thought the Don would choose someone like you.” Her voice dripped with disdain, but her eyes gleamed with jealousy.
My mother, seated in a nearby armchair, sighed in disgust.
“Make sure you give your husband heirs. You need to secure your position, and with any luck, it might even benefit our family.” Her expression was cold, her tone heavy with dissatisfaction.
I took a deep breath, looking at her through the mirror. I wasn’t going to stay silent this time.
“Mom, why do you hate me so much?”
She let out a short laugh, almost incredulous.
“I don’t hate you.” She leaned forward, adjusting one of her earrings with disdain. “I simply don’t care about your existence. At least you finally proved useful for something. Do this family a favor and speak well of us to your husband.”
I wanted to scream, but I only nodded, my lips tightening into a thin line.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best.”
She rolled her eyes, mimicking my words in an irritating tone.
“‘I’ll do my best,’” she repeated sarcastically. “Do you really think that’s enough?”
Giulia cut in, obviously taking advantage of the moment to place herself above me.
“I could marry Enzo. He’s young and handsome, the Don’s cousin. It would be a good alternative.” She smiled, fixing her hair as if she were irresistible and capable of winning over someone like him.
I looked at her through the mirror and forced a sarcastic smile.
“Maybe I could die and leave the Don a widower. Then you’d have your chance to shine.”
Giulia scoffed but didn’t answer. I stood from the chair, adjusting the dress with trembling hands.
“I think I’m dressed well enough,” I said to the staff member, who simply gestured for me to follow.
I left the room with steady steps, but my heart was pounding in my chest. The staff member quickly followed, holding up the train of my dress so it wouldn’t drag across the floor.
In the garden, my father was waiting for me near the car. He looked calmer than usual, but that was no comfort. When he saw me, he smiled, something rare coming from him.
“You look beautiful, Bianca. Get in.”
Before I could answer, the sound of a powerful engine caught my attention. An extremely luxurious car entered the property, gleaming beneath the late-afternoon light. It was unmistakable.
The black car stopped in front of the house, and I watched a tall, well-dressed man step out.
He adjusted his jacket with precision and walked toward me with firm strides.
He often accompanied Tiziano. I had seen him a few times, and he carried the same intimidating aura as Tiziano.
His cold, assessing eyes swept over me quickly.
“Bianca, let’s go.” He gestured toward the car without ceremony, as if I had no choice, which, of course, I didn’t.
My mother, beside me, huffed softly but gestured for me to obey. My father, as always, remained silent, wearing the expression of someone who didn’t know how to deal with the situation.
I swallowed hard, carefully walking down the steps so I wouldn’t trip over the dress. The man opened the car door for me and, without saying anything else, waited patiently for me to get in. He spoke little, but his gaze carried an authority I wouldn’t dare question.
When the door closed behind me, the car began to move, and the man beside me remained silent.
As my hands tightened around the fabric of my dress, my mind was in chaos.
What would happen when I was alone with Tiziano?
My breathing grew heavier at the thought. He was a powerful man, a dangerous man. What did he expect from me? How was I supposed to act?
I didn’t know what it meant to be a wife. What was I supposed to do? What would he do to me?
The questions spun through my head like a tornado, making me dizzy. My fingers clutched the dress even tighter as I fought to remain calm.
“Are you all right?” The man’s voice made me jump. He was still looking straight ahead, but he had clearly noticed my discomfort.
“Yes, sir,” I answered automatically, even though it was a lie.
He didn’t press. He simply adjusted his posture in the seat and continued watching the road.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm my mind, but it was impossible. Tiziano’s image dominated every thought. Those blue eyes that seemed to see straight through my soul. That firm voice that left no room for argument.
The car continued down a tree-lined road, and the scenery should have been beautiful, but I couldn’t take any of it in. All I could feel was fear of what was coming.
When we finally arrived, the man opened the door for me again, extending his hand in a polite but impersonal gesture.
“Don’t keep the Don waiting.”
Those words were enough to make my heart race even faster. I stepped out of the car on trembling legs, my eyes fixed on the enormous mansion in front of me.
It was larger than anything I had ever seen, but it didn’t feel welcoming. It was a fortress.
“Welcome to your new life,” he murmured, almost as if speaking to himself, before guiding me toward the ceremony.
I knew my life was about to change forever. But the question I couldn’t get out of my mind was: for better or for worse?